the fit session
“a great wardrobe is like a well oiled machine that consists of interrelated parts that all work together, allowing you to mix and match freely and create a ton of different outfits that all suit your personal style” – the curated closet by anuschka rees
identifying your core silhouettes
the second most important parameter in creating your capsule wardrobe is to discover silhouettes that look best on you
whether it’s a slip dress or a cocoon, denim jeans or a pencil skirt; off the shoulder top or crewneck tee, it has to make you feel great, and emphasize the parts of your silhouette you love the most
in a time of the “silhouette challenge”, where Black women are embracing their feminine curves and angles, you should explore the silhouettes that accentuate the beauty of your frame
building your capsule wardrobe and accentuating your personal style takes time and should be reevaluated each season or when your lifestyle changes
you start the same way we did with your color palette, with the clothing your currently have in your closet
and investing in a full length mirror
it’s extremely important to see your entire body
pull the clothing from your closet for the current season
clothing that you wear often (or you plan on wearing often)
try them on
either individually or in formulas
as sort of self-styling session
do this periodically as you build your capsule
consider self-styling after laundry or picking up your clothing from the dry-cleaners
or pulling items from your closet at the end of a major season, like summer (beginning of fall) or winter (beginning of spring)
as you build your capsule, continue to have periodic fit sessions, when you add new items
especially when adding the season’s hottest silhouette to your capsule
just because it’s in all of the magazines, doesn’t mean it’s for you, but it might be
so yes, purchase trendy items and evaluate them according to the principles and parameters
if they work, keep them
if they don’t, return them
try on your clothing to evaluate how they fit and how they feel on your body
are they limiting? meaning, do those silhouettes only “work” with specific items? perhaps one or two formulas? as we've learned this is not enough
all of the items in your capsule wardrobe must be versatile
as you periodically fit your clothing, you will notice some patterns
are certain silhouettes repeated often in your wardrobe?
something as simple as a crew or v-neck
do you see them repeated in your wardrobe in sweaters, tees, and dresses?
identifying patterns is very important
your periodic self-styling sessions will also reveal holes in your wardrobe and keep you on track in your personal style journey
mix and match pieces during your fittings and create new formulas
add accessories and footwear
take photos of yourself in individual pieces and outfits
what silhouettes do you wear the most? and why?
what silhouettes do you wear the least? and why?
do all of of the items in your favorite silhouettes align with your color palette?
yes, they have to
does the silhouette fit into your formulas? for school? for work? for leisure? formal vs casual?
focus on items you would actually wear
not items that you are attracted to, but silhouettes that YOU feel you look the best in
this is how you define your style
this is how you create your signature formulas
perhaps you found that one of your signature silhouettes are dresses? or pants?
dig a bit deeper and ask yourself, is your signature silhouette a bodycon dress? shirt? wrap? cocoon? or a combination of those? do you wear more of one or the other?
if you find that you wear pants in the majority of your formulas, are the pants a certain style or material? boot cut? boyfriend? slim fit? ankle? denim? menswear? leather/vegan leather?
once you identify a few of those favorite silhouettes, challenge yourself to dress them up and dress them down
create a date night look and transition that to a casual brunch look, using the same item, like a dress, or a t-shirt
create your pinnacle looks
the looks that you feel the most exquisite in
now begin to purge
slowly work the items out of your wardrobe that are unfaltering silhouettes and/or do not fit into your color palette
these items can be donated or sold
start putting those aside, taking photos of those items and placing them for sale or placing them in reusable bags for your next trip to your local clothing donation site
you don’t have to purge all at once, you can slowly place these items aside or in a suitcase until you feel comfortable enough to let them go
but let them go
